Shoe polishing apparatus



May 16, 1944. J. MULLAN SHOE POLISHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1941 JOSEPH M04 L /6/\/.

Patented May 16, 1944 UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFICE gsnongrocrsnme APPARATUS Joseph Mullan, Baltimore, Md. Application DecemhenlE, 1941,.SerialrNo. 422,931

1 Claim.

This invention refers to shoe holding. devices and more particularly to a device for positioning same. for polishing purposes. It has among its objects to provide a device of thi kind that may be mounted on a vertical wall and folded up out of the way while so mounted.

Also to have the mechanism used for supporting it easily disjointed to produce the folding action and of simple structural form.

Another object is to provide a means for positively preventing the device from collapsing while in use or until it is unlocked by the user to allow its proper closing.

Its main object is to provide a device that will be particularly convenient and useful for holding shoes for polishing purposes.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

The usual shoe holder is of the rigid type and continually projects from the wall in the way of passers-by. In this invention, the device holds shoes effectively, and folds up out of the way against the wall in an inconspicuous manner when the user is finished with it for the time being. The holder is easily removable. It can be very readily folded up and packed compactly for carrying in a suit case or other travelling container. The device is also portable. When open, it looks itself rigidly so as to prevent its sudden or uncalled for closing up.

In the drawing which illustrates an example of this invention:

Figure 1 is a front view of a shoe holder embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1 in open position ready for use,

Figure 3 is a side View of the device folded up,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the shoe holder shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, and

Figure 5 is a section of the locking device used in the original form and taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction indicated in the drawing, I represents wall-contacting back of bracket holder adapted to be secured to the wall by a support 2 mounted thereon or the screws 3. The upper portion of the back is provided with an arm 4 projecting out substantially at right angles, and having a hinge 5 mounted at the end of same.

This hinge maintains a shoe-form plate or rest 6 having a sole depression portion 1, and a heel holder 8. The heel holder is L shaped with an upright contact piece 9 arranged for the front portionof the heel IU of a shoe l I to butt against.

Downwardlyv extending lips l2 are attached to theheel holder as indicated and form a member. to which the upper portion l3 of a brace 30 can be linked and hinged with a pin M.

The lower portion [5 of the brace 3| comprises two members that are secured and hinged to the lip l6 extending from the front of the back I, with a pin I! holding and pivoting same, as shown.

The other end portions of the brace are hinged together at I8 with the pin l9 and elongated slot 32 in brace 30 forming a slidable pivot therefor. The upper portion 30 has a ledge 20 with a T-like portion 2| formed thereon to lock in a groove 22 formed in the lower portion 3| for the purpose. An oif-set portion 23 is provided in brace 3! to allow the lips I 2 and brace 30 to project into same when the holder is folded up, as indicated in Figure 3.

In this construction, the brace is opened up quickly and locked, ready to receive a shoe. The shoe can then be placed on the sole plate ready for polishing. Forcing the middle portions of the brace upwardly and inwardly toward the plate, folds the brace and allows it to collapse against the sole plate as indicated in Figure 3 in a very compact manner. The length of the sections of the brace are made so that the pivots l4 and I! will not align over each other and the off-set portion 23 allows the parts to be brought close together, yet spaces the parts 8 and I close to the hinge It so they may be handled readily for opening. When the device is opened the parts 20, 2|, 22 etc. lock together and keep the brace rigid and opened up into its bracket form and position. At the same time the joint may be manipulated readily and pressed upon and caused to open up and unlock so the shoe plate will swing on its hinge downwardly and rest on the back plate.

In the modified form, the brace members 33 and 34 are hinged as shown, the balance of the device is the same as the original form described above.

The hinge 26 and pin 35 is preferably of the form indicated in the drawing, the lips 21 are stamped out of or attached to the brace members 34. These lips serve as a stop to hold the sliding coupling .28 as it moves down when the brace is opened into operating position. The coupling covers the joint and prevents the brace from collapsing. At the same time, it may be readily moved up the brace so as to permit the brace to collapse, when the device is to be collapsed,

While but one form of the invention is indicated in the drawing it is not desired to limit this application to this particular form or in any other way otherwise than limited by the scope thereof, as it is appreciated that other forms could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A shoe polishing holder of the class described for wall mounting, comprising in combination, a flat wall plate adapted for wall attachment with its upper end portion bent angularly thereto to extend at right angles to the wall and with its end formed into a hinge member, a shoe rest plate with its wall-approaching end formed into a hinge member and coacting with the first men tioned member so as to hinge therewith and with its outer end portion depressed to engage the heel of a shoe facing towards the wall and horizon tally placed on the plate, the'middle portion of the plate being shoe-formed and arcuately depressed to receive the sole of the shoe thereon spaced away from the first mentioned hinge member, a lip element extending downwardly from the plate inwardly from the shoe heel engaging portion, a brace section of flat material having one end portion pivoted to the said lip element and its other end portion formed into a ledge laterally bent and with a pin spaced away from the ledge and out of line therewith, another brace section composed of two parallel pieces of flat material having one end portion pivoted to the said wall plate adjacent but spaced away from the lower end thereof with its other end portion slotted to receive said pin slidably therein and permit the adjustment of the ledge therein to coact with the pin to lock the brace sections together into one rigid unit for supporting the rest plate underneath and braced from the wall plate, in position for shoe polishing, all of the said portions of the structure of the holder being arranged to permit the ready folding and closing of the same into a compact unit substantially as described.

' JOSEPH MULLAN. 

